Dennis Skinner unapologetic for branding SNP MP 'piece of s***' in the Commons

Labour’s Dennis Skinner has defended labelling an SNP MP a "piece of s***" during an exchange in the House of Commons.

Veteran MP Mr Skinner said he wanted to put the SNP "in their place" after Jeremy Corbyn was heckled from their benches during an emergency debate on the delayed vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal.

The 86-year-old mouthed the insult at Glasgow South MP Stewart McDonald during the debate.

He said afterwards: "He attacks Jeremy Corbyn every time he stands up and I've told him before he is part of the opposition and he should concentrate on attacking the real enemy. I just put them in their place."

Mr McDonald branded Mr Skinner a "thug" after the incident.

He tweeted: "A new parliamentary habit seems to be forming, whereby any time an SNP MP sat behind Dennis Skinner verbalises any frustration about what Jeremy Corbyn says, he angrily turns round to tell us off.

"He has just turned round and called me a 'piece of s***'. He has become a thug."

Countdown to Brexit: 108 days until Britain leaves the EU

Yesterday Mr Skinner, who has served as MP for Bolsover for 48 years, lashed out at Mrs May for being “weak” and labelled her “frit”, a jibe famously used by Margaret Thatcher.

He is widely known as "the Beast of Bolsover" for his uncompromising style.

Additional reporting by Press Association